"Otto, you really are despicable."
Vill-V, who had been doing warm-up stretches, also stopped her diagonal chest expansion exercise upon hearing this and muttered under her breath, "Damn it, you dog Otto, why did you go and self-destruct like a werewolf? I haven't even started fighting Reanna yet."
If she had known, she would have struck harder during that sneak attack just now. He had clearly let his guard down and failed to dodge. Unfortunately, when Expert fired the hidden shot, she even gave a warning in advance. Who did she learn that from? Since when was there such an honest and straightforward Vill-V?
Now, because of Otto's self-exposure, the situation gradually began to tilt in Vill-V's favor. Some of the Valkyries who were on good terms with Reanna still kept their weapons pointed at Vill-V, but their eyes had already turned suspicious as they waited for Otto's explanation.
But to their surprise, Otto not only refused to explain himself or defend his actions, he went even further in admitting them. "Hahaha, Miss Vill-V is correct. I, Otto, am insidious and cunning, adept at manipulating power."
In the blink of an eye, Otto stepped to Vill-V's side. Like a grand villainous boss, he continued speaking at length to Reanna. "In order to achieve my goal, I transformed you into the Ship of Theseus and implanted a backdoor program. Whenever I wish, I can completely take over your mechanical hippocampus, seize control of your body, and turn it into another version of myself."
Seeing Otto voluntarily step over and stand with his back to her, Vill-V had to struggle to suppress the urge to stab him from behind... Better to hear what they had to say first. It wouldn't be too late to stab him afterward.
The Valkyrie behind Reanna covered her mouth, her voice filled with disbelief. "Lord Archbishop... Lord Archbishop, how could you do something like this?"
"No, Lord Archbishop must have his reasons. He must have done it to help Lady Reanna!"
"What's a mechanical hippocampus?"
"Has Lady Reanna already offered her body to Lord Archbishop? I want to as well..."
"You dare slander Lord Archbishop? Go die! Let me go, I'll kill this bitch!"
The faith of the Valkyries who had once worshiped Otto without reservation began to visibly waver. Some grew so agitated that they wanted to fight Vill-V to the death, refusing to accept the collapse of Otto's image and instead placing all the blame on her.
Lord Otto had once been so perfect, so lofty, so wise, so virtuous.
The aftermath of an idol's downfall was terrifying indeed.
"You..." Reanna pointed at Otto, her words caught in her throat. She had already foreseen what would happen next.
The other Valkyries might not understand, but Reanna herself knew very clearly what kind of vile acts Otto would commit if he ever reached the point of taking over her body.
Those acts would undoubtedly shatter the Valkyrie convictions she had upheld all her life.
And now, there was something even more heartbreaking—she herself...
...No, all the Valkyries...
...Had trusted him as the helmsman who would lead humanity out of the grasp of the Honkai.
Even though her duty as a Valkyrie told Reanna that she should continue to obey Archbishop Otto's orders, her will and faith as a Valkyrie could no longer accept Otto's control.
If it were merely a small disagreement, Reanna would have punched Otto once, then forgiven him and continued carrying out his commands.
But now Otto had spoken of ordering her to slaughter her own comrades. That was something Reanna could never forgive.
Even if it were a joke, a bishop capable of making such a joke was no longer worthy of trust.
At this moment, Reanna did not know what she should do. Once, she had only been a ship. Wherever the helmsman directed, she sailed.
All the Valkyries had been the same. Otto had been their direction.
And now, the helmsman had defected. Where would this colossal vessel, carrying all of humanity's hopes, sail to next?
Gray mist once again enveloped everyone present.
Looking at the silent Reanna and the Valkyries who had clearly split into two factions, Archbishop Otto showed no trace of disappointment. Instead, he burst into laughter and turned to Vill-V. "Miss Vill-V, is this what you wanted? Now you can recruit Schicksal's former S-rank Valkyrie—the strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal, Reanna—into your Anti-Entropy."
"In fact, if that's what you desired, you could have told me directly. I've said before that I would fulfill your wish."
"I know that my objective does not conflict with yours. We could have cooperated for mutual benefit."
Otto had already seen through it. The reason Vill-V had exposed these matters was to help him.
How could sowing discord between Otto and Reanna possibly be considered helping Otto?
In truth, Otto was thinking further ahead. Starting from the premise that Vill-V came from the future and wanted to protect Reanna, many possibilities emerged.
For example, Reanna might be unable to endure his control and commit suicide...
Or she might rebel against Schicksal using the power of the Herrscher of Reason, only to be killed by him in the end.
By detonating this hidden danger in advance in the mildest way possible, Schicksal would not truly lose its strongest Valkyrie.
Because of Reanna's value, Otto was unwilling to let her retire. Yet he also did not wish for her to die miserably with her will broken.
After more than a hundred years of assistance from this Valkyrie, even Otto retained a sliver of goodwill in his heart.
Even if that goodwill was false.
Thus, playing the clown for once and going along with the tide to "sell off" Reanna in exchange for a wave of goodwill was, instead, the best choice for both sides. That goodwill was not only from Anti-Entropy—the more important part was Reanna's. Let her stay with Anti-Entropy for a while. In the future, Otto would have plenty of means to make her willingly stab Anti-Entropy in the back and return.
As long as he could resolve the world crisis and obtain from Vill-V a method to reverse time, then let alone playing the clown once—even playing the clown for a lifetime would make no difference.
Valkyries could be trained anew, but such crucial intelligence was an opportunity that could not be missed.
Another point was that Otto had understood Expert's words. Time truly was running short. In that case, there was no need to waste it. It would be better for him to take the initiative in pushing events forward rather than be led by Vill-V.
Vill-V clicked her tongue. "Tsk. Spare me, Otto. I have no interest in mutual benefit with you..."
Vill-V had not expected Otto to be so decisive, so shameless. He would rather act as a clown than allow her and Reanna to have a proper fight. Now there was truly no way for her and Reanna to battle.
Damn it. Forcing the health bars to stay hidden—Otto, you're too despicable!
And don't be fooled by how Otto seems to be yielding now. Who knows how many traps he's already buried beneath the surface? A man who can discard his pride entirely—do you really expect to negotiate cooperation and trade with someone like that?